Home / Sports / Shaheen Afridi Withdraws, Rauf Unsold: Pakistan's Hundred Woes
Shaheen Afridi Withdraws, Rauf Unsold: Pakistan's Hundred Woes
13 Mar
Summary
- Haris Rauf went unsold, Shaheen Afridi withdrew from the auction.
- No Pakistani women's players secured contracts in their auction.
- Withdrawals and limited overseas spots reduced Pakistan's presence.
The 2026 Hundred auction proved challenging for Pakistani cricketers, with several prominent players going unsold or withdrawing. Fast bowler Haris Rauf was not selected, while ODI captain Shaheen Shah Afridi withdrew just prior to the men's auction. This follows a previous decision by the ECB and franchises to base selections purely on performance, availability, and team needs, amidst scrutiny over Pakistani participation.
Adding to the setbacks, no Pakistani women's players secured contracts. Muneeba Ali, Diana Baig, Sadia Iqbal, and captain Fatima Sana were all listed with a base price of £15,000 but received no bids. Shaheen Shah Afridi's withdrawal was among five overseas players who pulled out, likely due to clashes with the Caribbean Premier League or other international commitments.
Consequently, Pakistan's presence in this year's Hundred competition has been significantly diminished. This situation underscores the strong influence that scheduling conflicts and the limited number of overseas player slots exert on franchise recruitment strategies within the tournament.
